I have been convinced the answer to the question in the subject header is the first alternative since I first saw her on Larry Sanders. I think she proves it again in her recent HBO Special "We Are Miracles". Of course, the same special will confirm the judgement of those who think the answer is the second alternative too. I won't try to persuade anyone to change their mind. But I did want to draw attention to the latest round of online debate about Silverman the special has stimulated, thanks mostly to a remarkable review in Variety by Brian Lowry:
http://variety.com/2013/tv/columns/sarah-silvermans-bad-career-move-being-as-dirty-as-the-guys-1200834142/ The response is well illustrated by this piece by Ellen Killoran: http://www.ibtimes.com/sarah-silverman-failure-according-variety-critic-1482438, in which she writes: "That Silverman chose to traffic in raunchy, envelope-pushing humor as opposed to utilizing her good looks seems to be a tragedy in Lowry’s eyes: “Despite all manner of career-friendly gifts – from her looks to solid acting chops – she’s limited herself by appearing determined to prove she can be as dirty and distasteful as the boys …” Silverman fans and bashers will no doubt take appropriate sides here, but what really got my attention was the extent to which Lowry either does not understand the comedy world, or was willing to misrepresent it in order to make his point, and that is the main point I like in Killoran's rebuttal. Lowry tries to argue that because Silverman pushes the envelope and continues to think that saying the "C" word over and over is funny, her career is a failure, dooming her to work the small room at Largo's in LA (where the special was filmed). Of course I and other Silverman fans know that those who think her act is basically saying "cunt" over and over to get shock laughs are completely and profoundly misunderstanding her, but that is a different argument. The main point of this argument is that Sarah Silverman is one of the most successful comics of her generation, and that the side room at Largo's has a certain significance in the LA comedy scene. Yes, it is true that Sarah Silverman is pretty and likable enough that she could probably have a career as the star, or at least co-star, of a mainstream network sitcom. That she has chosen a different career path does not necessarily mean she has more integrity that the scores of pretty women who trade on their looks for easy Hollywood success, but it also does not make her a failure either. I am not one for knee-jerk feminist bitching, and I would take issue with those of my fellow Silverman fans who might accuse everyone who bashes her of sexism; but in the case of Lowry's critique and others like it, I think the sexist charge is pretty well warranted. If you don't think she's funny, fine; I never could figure out why so many people thought that Raymond sitcom was so funny. But if you think attractive female comics should leave the dirty talk and frank comic material to men and instead make themselves pretty for network TV, then I'm afraid you just might be a sexist. -- -- TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TVorNotTV" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
